Three Success Tips That Have Increased My Energy & Productivity

How to Cope with Life’s Challenges while Running a Startup Business

Everyone knows someone who is hurting. This person might even be you… if so, my heart goes out to you and the many others who are struggling with challenging life circumstances. And many of you are not only dealing with your own pain, but are also raising a family and running a startup!!! I get how very hard this must be for you.

I am not a therapist but I love to help others succeed and am passionate about supporting our community. There are many who are seeking help and it is my hope that a few of the following ideas and insights will give you strength and healing. I have had my share of financial, health, and family challenges so I feel that I can relate to the pain and experiences that many of you may be facing right now. I remember days when I couldn’t afford gas, diapers, or food. I remember days when taking a shower was an accomplishment. I remember days when I felt so very alone and scared about what our future would be. Life has now shifted and we are in a good place, but those times were not that long ago and I remember what helped me through them and I want to share them with you. These are things that I do often and when I have a hard day I go back to this list and make sure I’m trying to do them.

First of all, you need a friend. Everyone needs a real friend, and if you don’t have one, seek for and pray for someone to show up in your life who you can talk to and share your struggles with who will be uplifting and supportive. This friend should be in a stable life situation, so they can be a mentor and offer good feedback. Ideally this is someone who you could call on a weekly basis or even text on a daily basis when things are very dark and hard. When identifying who your ‘friend’ is make sure they are willing to be this person in your life right now, you might need to be clear that you need to be the receiver of their friendship for a time but that you will try to also be available for them as they need you.

Self-nuturing, rest and good nutrition are very key for thinking more clearly and for managing the overwhelming circumstances. Be peaceful about decreasing your work load and increasing your rest. Take time to eat well and if you can’t manage it, ask for others to help make sure you’re eating healthy (avoid fast food, processed, refined, and canned food). Increase your water! Learn to love naps, 15 minutes can make a huge difference!

Create routines that give you some consistency. Just as children thrive with routines, so can we. The goal is to find routines that will help cheer you up when you’re having a hard week. Think of what will get you out of bed, get you moving, connecting with others and help you smile more often. Give yourself permission to create something you want to do for yourself. Consider one of the following… reading for 15 min each night before bed, weekly library day, walk to the park after dinner with your family once a week, enroll in a class you’ve always wanted to take, schedule a monthly massage, or whatever else you feel YOU want to do for YOU.

Try a Pains/Gains worksheet- This is excellent free therapy! Take a piece of paper and fold it vertically and on the left side write ‘PAINS’ and on the right write ‘GAINS’. Simply write down EVERY single pain you have on the left column, anything that is bothering you in any degree physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. Write until you can’t think of another thing, take a break, reread it and add anything else. Then on the right side under ‘GAINS’ write down one thing per item that you can benefit from this particular pain. For example, if the pain is ‘headaches’ the gain can be ‘chance to rest more often’. While the headache isn’t great to deal with, the rest does have some benefit, forcing you to slow down and take time for healing.

Uplifting music can be an excellent mood booster. I memorized the lyrics of many songs that give me emotional and spiritual strength. I remember many times singing out loud the words of inspiring songs while I went on walks, showered, or drove my car. This very powerful, don’t underestimate the high vibration and energy music can offer you.

Mantras offer support when our spirits are low and we are feeling negative and or when we want to shift into a higher thought process and create something better for ourselves. Mantras or affirmations should be short and easy to memorize and repeat. For years I’ve used a very simple one when running or working out, “I am strong, I am fit, I am free, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” or I just shorten it to “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”. Regardless of where you find inspiration and help, find what works for you, write it down and etch it into your heart and mind and whenever you have a moment when you’re feeling sad or need encouragement, turn to it.  Reading anything uplifting can help when done repeatedly and when you see examples of people using faith and humility to overcome challenges.

Journaling is an effective form of release that is under used by busy women! Keep a small journal in your bag and another by your bedside to write down thoughts or feelings, express yourself freely and without restraint… burn it if necessary! Get out those feelings of pain and overwhelm. Write down all the things you’re grateful for often, make a list of 100 things and add to it daily.

Aromatherapy is a personal favorite for managing emotions. Are you aware of the power of smell? Do you have a diffuser? if not, get one here. I am a distributor and use the doTERRA essential oils brand. They are so powerful because they are better than organic (tested 3rd party, every liter) you can take them internally, topically, or use them in a diffuser. Excellent oils for emotional support are Citrus Bliss, Balance, Elevation, and Serenity. I use them over my heart and mind, put them in my bath water too. If you want to know more about these and how they work feel free to text me at 801-856-4765.

Remember that Touch is one of the most healing gifts we have been given. Give hugs, receive them, snuggle up with a child or loved one, get a massage, give one!

Connect to Nature! Whenever I go for a walk or look at our amazing mountains I’m uplifted and feel encouraged… the more time I’m off technology and into nature I’m feeling better about myself and the life that is mine to live.

Praying isn’t just for the church going types, its for everyone who believes in a higher being, in a Creator. Have you ever reached out and gave thanks for your life and blessings? Ever asked questions? Even if you’re new to prayer or its been a long time since you’ve prayed, I highly recommend you give it a try. There are many ways to pray, find what works for you. I believe in God the Father and in His son, Jesus Christ so this is how I do it: I start by saying, “Heavenly Father, Thank thee for….. I ask thee for …….. in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Then I wait and pause to listen to what I feel and any ideas or inspiration that comes to the questions or concerns I discussed and I write them down. I believe that when you take time to write down the inspiration you receive and then act on those things then your relationship with God and Christ increases. I especially recommend praying out loud and when possible in nature, it’s amazing. I love to pray because I feel connected, supported, and comforted.

Lastly, do you have a Vision Board or a Bucket List? If not, make one today! Dream, dream, dream, then put that dream into action little by little.

Keep the faith and hope alive that your challenges are temporary. Ask, ‘What am I supposed to learn from this so I can move forward?’ Listen, pay attention so the lesson can be complete.

Consider- How do you want to react to your situation? I invite you to do it with gratitude, love and peace. Choose to live daily with faith and I promise you that with a cheerful outlook life will improve every moment.

I hope you try some of these ideas and that they help you to feel more peace and more joy in your current situation and beyond, I feel honored to share them with you.

What ideas do you have to add? What helps you? We would love to hear from you!

This post was written by Kelly King Anderson, the Founder of Startup Princess.

Life Balance is a Myth – Two Nuggets You Can Use Today For Greater Fulfillment

Life balance is a myth.

I learned this the hard way.  Perhaps you can relate.  I had baby #2 while I was running 3 businesses from home.  When you’re a solo entrepreneur there’s no such thing as “maternity leave”.  Sure, I had sent a bunch of tasks to my assistant, and outsourced some projects, but I had to get back into the swing of things really quick.

And I just never felt “back into the swing” of anything.  I went in search of life balance, and it turns out, the more I strived for balance, the less in control I spent.  It’s just not possible to spend as much time with your family or on your social life as you spend at work. If you have a full time job.  And it’s just not possible to spend as much time working, when you have a newborn baby.

I gave it up.  All of it.  I gave up looking for balance or trying to FEEL balanced.  I gave up beating myself up when things didn’t go the way I thought they should.   I gave up balance, and found something so much better.

I can’t share all my juicy nuggets in one post, but let’s start with these two:

1. Comparison = Despair 

My greatest sadness came when I was comparing myself to other women in business.  ”They have more kids than I do, and they seem to make it work.”  or “She’s prettier than I am, no wonder she’s more successful.”  or “How did she get so popular so quickly?!” My list of comparison thoughts goes on and on.  Truly, your path to fulfillment is just that: YOURS.  What works for you, will not work for someone else and vice versa.  We will always find fault in ourselves as we compare ourselves to others.  Chat your course.  Listen to the whisperings you receive about YOUR direction and go confidently that way.  Your life may not be picture perfect but it’s exactly as it’s supposed to be.

2. Forget about balance and think in terms of PRIORITIES

Danielle Laporte said something to me once that hit me to the core.  ”It’s not about balance, it’s about priorities.”

A light went on.  A burden lifted from my shoulders.  My entire consulting practice changed.  I created a system for myself that was about priorities, and not about balance, and my results were phenomenal.  I doubled my business in 2011, I lost 40 pounds, I increased my paycheck, I dropped one business that wasn’t my core passion and added another business that was truly me.  Most importantly, my relationship with my husband, children and friends improved.

When we think about balance, with think about a constant state of peace in our lives where everything feels perfect.  It  just doesn’t exist..  When we think in terms of priorities and give ourselves permission to let our priorities change, we’re able to focus on what’s most important that day, week or month.

Once I finally gave up on having balance my whole world changed, and so did my coaching program and my approach to consulting clients.  My clients love me for it, and I want to share this wisdom with all of you.

I’ve created a 2 video e-course called “Working Smarter, NOT Harder“.  The principles in this video series are the first step to letting go of the life balance myth and find true fulfillment.  I hope you’ll check it out here.

Until next time, make a wish make it happen!

Michelle McCullough is the Managing Director for Startup Princess.  Michelle became a partner in Startup Princess  in 2008.  She is responsible for event planning, marketing, affiliates, sponsorships and partnerships. Over the past 3 years she has coached women entrepreneurs and helped them grow their businesses from “dream in development” to established thriving businesses.  Michelle is a speaker, strategist, success expert and a serial entrepreneur. She started Doodads Promotional Products when she was 19. And has also spent the last 12 years working in marketing and advertising. She’s worked in all aspects of the industry from production to creative and sales to management. On top of her full-time jobs, Michelle has cultivated her love for entrepreneurship by running Doodads as a successful side business.  Today it continues to thrive.  This year Michelle launched a coaching program called “The Life Balance Myth” to help busy entrepreneurs build thriving businesses AND meaningful personal lives.  She believes that life balance is a myth, but she provides practical tools to achieve personal and professional success.  You can learn more about Michelle at SpeakMichelle.com.  Michelle has two children ages 4 and 2 and lives in Utah. Get access to her free video e-cource here.

Wish Granted: My Opportunity to Serve in Paradise

Friends, I’ve been so anxious to share our family’s exciting news. My husband and I have been called to serve a mission for a year at Brigham Young University Hawaii!

Here are the details and background on why it is so significant to us. Thanks for reading this- it’s quite long and I appreciate you allowing me to share it with you.

When my husband, Matt and I first met in 1994 we were missionaries for our church, learning our respective languages in the Provo, Utah Mission Training Center – he was learning Spanish and I was learning Bulgarian. We were friends and soccer buddies in our PE class. Fast forward 2 years of wonderful missions, we ran into each other on the first day back to college at BYU. We enjoyed reconnecting and after a few months started dating. Once we were engaged, I remembered feeling uneasy about what Matt might choose as a career path- would he be an entrepreneur!? I seriously hope NOT!  At the time, I thought anything would be better than having the uncertainty that entrepreneurship would bring. He assured me that he would to be a professor, so while I wasn’t excited about the average income, I felt more peaceful with that answer than the alternative- business owner seemed so scary and daunting.  But when asked what Matt really wanted to be, his answer was always, ‘I just want to be a missionary’. There’s no career in the world that Matt would rather do than serve God but in our faith missionaries are volunteers (so I knew we couldn’t consider that as an option until we retired).

As we started graduate school in 1997, Matt got creative with supporting our growing family and started to buy and sell computers and electronics. He is a genius at anything electronic and knows how to get the best deals, how to get them cheap and fix them up to resell and turned a very nice profit running multiple businesses through eBay and owned a cellphone store. It was almost so natural I didn’t even realize it until one day that I was married to an entrepreneur! Whenever I would start to hyperventilate over it I would remind myself that he was making a very amazing income — and it wasn’t such a bad thing that I got an Audi for Valentine’s day and closed on a brand new house on our fifth anniversary. Then things got more competitive in the industry and there were some major financial challenges… lots of them for several years, and I wasn’t so sold on the whole concept anymore.  Matt had a partner who embezzled and ended up in prison and there were a lot of days when I cried. I cried so much about money and not having enough for gas that one Summer I had 3 garage sales so I could cover basics. We were barely surviving and had to borrow money from family and get help from our church to pay bills. Then after a few months I had an idea: why don’t I create a business…I can do something and shift our circumstances. While I didn’t really know a lot about business, I was experienced in marketing and had good, solid ideas.  The BYU Center for Entrepreneurship validated these ideas and encouraged me to compete in business plan competitions. I was in my final year of Theatre grad school and the mom of 2 young kids, and I decided to go for it. I could just win — that was my hope.

So, in 2005, I entered the business plan competitions and did very well… in fact, I won 2nd place nationally at Wake Forest and 12th at the global competition at Rice. I got a lot of great recognition for the idea and enough to cover expenses, but not the big money prizes that I desired to launch my startup.  I was introduced to a new passion and community I adored. I had to eat a lot of humble pie because I was officially calling myself an entrepreneur and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the title. This win did a lot for my confidence and I completely hungered after all conversations regarding startups. Things shifted yet again — Matt’s business picked up and we had our 3rd baby.  I didn’t launch that business, but I did launch this site- Startup Princess, in 2006. We’ve had a wonderful ride here sharing experiences, hearing yours, producing amazing events, and received wonderful press, receiving awards and above all — making incredible friends. This company has always been mostly a break-even venture… so while I love it, there comes a time when you have to realize that your hobby business should keep hobby hours and if you want revenue you should seek it.

That’s when I noticed the earning potential with doTERRA Essential Oils in the Fall of 2009. I started as a distributor because I loved the products so much, my friend was earning a great income with it and my neighbor was one of the owners. So, there you go…now here we are in 2012 and I’m now earning significant income and growing a team worldwide that I love. I never in a million years thought that I’d be both entrepreneur and distributor of a direct sales company, but it’s a perfect fit for me, Startup Princess keeps me creative and in touch with women in startups and doTERRA gives me a chance to be compensated for my talents and coaching which I love. Meanwhile while I’ve been growing my businesses, Matt’s been thriving too with his. He’s completely soared in his industry with his Wholesale Consumer Electronics business and has gained a wonderful reputation for having the best deals anywhere. Regardless of Matt’s successes in business, we’ve decided that the residual income and earning potential with doTERRA is such a great opportunity that we’ve made plans for that to be our main income source, as it will free us up to live anywhere in the world and create a life that we want to for our family without being tied to operating a business 9-5.

Side story: About the same time I began on my doTERRA path I had the prompting that a ‘mission call’ was coming to our family and that we needed to be prepared to move and accept it, that the resources would be available so we could do it but that we needed to move and be ready. I dejunked the house for a couple months and then just kind of let the busy-ness of life get in the way; then a year later I was again nudged even more strongly by God to take the prompting seriously and prepare to move so I listened. Last August we sold our home, most of our belongings and moved into this beautiful furnished rental, a total dream that we’ve loved so much. We hoped we could stay here but kept things open and tried to surrender to what was right for us to do. We planned a 3 month trip to Europe to explore if maybe we would like to live abroad, we will be going in May to do that. We thought that after that trip we’d return back to Utah and resume living in this lovely home in Alpine. But God had different plans…

In December while attending a friend’s wedding in Hawaii I became acquainted with the BYU Hawaii (Laie, Oahu) Center for Entrepreneurship and the church missionaries there teaching classes in entrepreneurship to students who are mostly Pacific Islanders. I was so intrigued by the concept of serving a mission and teaching students about startups that I peppered the professors with questions about how you get such a gig as they had. I thought it would be fantastic to serve a mission such as theirs in the future. Then that’s when things shifted:  they started to ask me lots of questions and they asked Matt and I to apply to be considered and to interview. We didn’t really know if we were ready for such a commitment but went forward with it and trusted if it would be right that we’d feel peaceful about it. We interviewed in January and had a very beautiful meeting where we felt the Spirit of God confirming to us that it was a good thing for our family and that we should go. They had others to interview so we didn’t know if we would be selected, but we were willing…and hopeful. We received an official invitation a few weeks later to serve as teaching missionaries at the BYU Hawaii Center for Entrepreneurship. We’ve been finishing up paper work and preparing for what lies ahead. We’re thrilled and honored and happy to serve and it’s been so delightful to see God’s hand in our lives.  We have been given the opportunity to serve as we have always wanted, in a dreamy place with great people.

So that’s our big news- we’re heading to Europe for 3 months May 15th then report to BYU Hawaii Sept 1 to serve there until June 15, 2013 at the Center for Entrepreneurship. I am delighted that Matt’s wish to be a missionary is happening before we’re 40 and that everything has lined up so beautifully. We will team-teach courses and help them with their programs, business plan competition, business clubs, and anywhere they need. We will work as volunteer missionaries, so that means we are required to cover all expenses related for our family to live there. We will be able to run our doTERRA business at the same time and also I’ll be still involved with Startup Princess in a limited capacity. We are grateful to have this privilege and our kids are so excited that they screamed with joy when we told them. They will do a home school program while we’re gone and are anxious to experience the culture.

Life is filled with miracles — so grateful!

I have always loved our Startup Princess tagline:  Make a Wish, Make it Happen, and after writing this story it feels even more relevant.  If this post has inspired you to do something brave, something out of the ordinary to make a difference, I encourage you to do it. You are here to do something powerful- seek after it and once you know what it is, act on it. 

-Kelly King Anderson, Startup Princess Founder

 

The Heavy Heart

Tiffany Walke Peterson shared the following article in an email and I asked if we could post it here.  She graciously accepted.

Perhaps right now, your heart is aching. You may be facing great uncertainty in your life, your finances, your marriage, health, or career. Your circumstances may find you currently out of work or behind on your bills. You may be feeling lonely and unloved. Or you feel overwhelmed and frazzled and Christmas has become one more source of stress versus joy.

If I may, I’d like to speak directly to the heavy hearted this Christmas season. Last night as I was going to bed, I had the clear impression and inspiration to write this email. I thought it interesting considering it wasn’t planned nor the traditional holiday wishes. Yet, it was clear and inspired so here it is.

I too know what it’s like to have a Christmas where your heart is breaking. Where you feel so alone, scared, unsure, or simply without the joy of Christmas in your heart. Years ago at Christmas, I found my marriage in shambles and my heart broken. As one who typically loves the holidays with great passion, that year I couldn’t wait for December 26th to get here. I was sad, scared, and really unsure of where my life was going. Yet in the midst of that darkness, there were many glimmers of hope and light from God, angels, and dear family and friends – if I chose to see them. It was a time of great seeking and searching to know what to do, where to turn, and what choices to make. And in that searching, I did experience many choice spiritual experiences that touched my heart in a profound way.

Although I may not know the details of what you’re going through, I do know the following truths apply to you, your life and potential, and what is available to you.

1. You are never alone. Ever. No matter what it “feels” like, you are not alone. You have a Maker who knows you and your needs and who loves and cares for you. You are always surrounded by LOVE and you are being watched over.
2. God/Universe/Angels wait to assist you to guide your path and your decisions. They can never force anything so it is up to us to ask for their divine help and direction. They are always available, no matter where you’re at or the struggles you’re facing.
3. From our greatest struggles can come our greatest strengths. There are lessons within your challenges. Go to meditation, prayer, or reflection and ask yourself, “What is this here to teach me? What is the gift of this?” As Napoleon Hill once taught, “With every adversity is the seed of greater opportunity.” There are gems for you where you are right now, even if you can’t see them just yet.
4. Focus on what you are grateful for right now, no matter how small it may seem. Gratitude changes our heart and our mindset. It helps us to see the bright, glimmers of hope and goodness and in doing so, it can help your heavy heart feel lighter.
5. “The best way to heal a broken heart is to serve others.” I heard this advice in the thick of my heavy hearted season. It was simple, true, and profound for me. It’s been said that when we lift others, we lift ourselves. I find this to be true. Reach out to someone else – offer a compliment, offer to help, buy their coffee in line, or some other gesture that serves someone else. When we focus on helping others, we do help ourselves.
6. Finally, increase your self care. Watch your favorite movie or cuddle up with a good book. Take a hot bath or make your favorite treat. Increase doing kind things for yourself that bring you joy or happiness. When our hearts our heavy, it’s important to be kind and loving towards ourselves.

The true spirit of Christmas or the spirit of the Season as you may say, is about a special feeling, about love, about a certain attitude more than it is about anything external. If you look for it, through the darkness and sadness you may be feeling right now, there are embers of hope, love, and peace within.

I promise you that LIFE has great things in store for you. I promise you that you will not always feel so heavy hearted. I promise you that your Maker is with you, even now, to comfort you and guide your steps. There will be seasons of joy for you.

If this speaks to you, if this was written for you, I send a prayer for you with this email that you may feel hope and love within these words and within your heart this day.

Bless you, sweet warrior. You have what it takes to prevail and you will get through whatever you’re facing.

With great love for you,

Tiffany

Tiffany Walke Peterson is on of Startup Princess’ Fairy Godmothers.  Before founding her own company, Tiffany  worked with and for many popular authors and groups, both selling and teaching the content for Franklin Covey, Jack Canfield, and Robert Kiyosaki, of the world famous Rich Dad, Poor Dad series.  Tiffany received many promotions in her corporate life experience, managing multiple sales teams and projects, with a responsibility for sales budgets that ranged from $7.5 million to $40 million in annual sales revenue. Due to her record breaking sales achievements, she was sought after to train and mentor her proven sales style, process, and techniques to other sales associates, of which ultimately led her career and her passion for training, speaking, and coaching to evolve into what is now her own business. Tiffany has successfully trained and coached hundreds of sales people, with an average of 30% increase in sales revenue due to her proven methods.   Tiffany is the Founder and President of The Lighthouse Principles, Inc, a training and development firm offering proven methods and strategies to align individuals and organizations in creating success with their own goals, results, and purpose.

Your Why

What are you passionate about?  When you are talking with your family and friends, what lights up your eyes, puts a smile on your face and gets you excited to just thinking about it?  Is it love? Money? Politics? Success? Health? Happiness? Business?  The next question can be pretty telling.  Do you get AS excited about your business as you do about the subject that makes you giddy to talk about?  I hope so.  If the answer is no, I want you to look critically about the thing that you do with your time that doesn’t absolutely light up your life.  If the answer is yes, you are probably pretty motivated by “your why”.  What I love about working with women entrepreneurs is that most are driven by one of two things (hopefully both!).  They are either SUPER passionate about what they do in their business, or they are super passionate about WHAT their business provides for them (lifestyle, food on the table, roof over their heads, etc.).  This passion is critical to your every day happiness and success and sometimes even if your passionate about what it’s providing for you, it can still be tiring and hard sometimes.

I just finished reading the New York Times Bestselling book “The Compound Effect” by Darren Hardy, publisher of Success Magazine.  It was a great book about success.  It was a quick read and the concepts were fantastic.  One of the things that I like about Darren Hardy is his campaign to free homes of television.  Though I’m not THAT extreme in my own home, this book reminded me to be REALLY careful about what I put in my brain.  “Garbage in, garbage out,” says Hardy.  We fill our minds with all kinds of depression and destruction and then expect to have our minds fueled with success and joy.  He doesn’t watch one bit of news media.  But, like me, he’s turned his car into a rolling university where he listens to good books while he’s commuting or traveling.  He’s filling his mind with good stuff. Since September, I’ve finished 9 books on the subjects of business, success, and work/life priority.  I read some, and I listen to some in the car.  I highly recommend this success principle of filling your mind with good non-fiction that keeps you motivated but ALSO keeps you at the top of your industry.   Some of the concepts in his book I’ve read in other places.  That never gets me frustrated, it just reminds me that success really is about universal truths, we just get to pick if we’re going to act on the wisdom of the greats.

I digress.  I intended to write a full review on the book, but my heart wants to take me elsewhere.   Hardy talks in his book about “Your Why” and I reflected on this A LOT this year.

When I hired my first success coach this summer to really launch my speaking career, one of the most powerful exercises she took me through was, “Your Why”.  I was trying to fine tune my topic and area of expertise and she asked me a series of questions that were easy for me to answer.  I truly wish the entire world was happier.  I truly wish that everyone realized that with some simple choices, they could choose to be happier.  I love helping women entrepreneurs find joy in business without sacrificing their personal lives.  While we were talking I was so full of passion that I was doing laps around my dining room table.  These weren’t new realizations to me, and they were easy to talk about, but then she had me write it down.  I was amazed at how easy it was for me to write down a page of things that were really motivating me to share my message with the world.

So my question for you, again, is this?  What makes you giddy?  What makes you SO excited that you have a hard time sleeping at night because you WANT to work?  I want to invite you to create your “My Why” paper.  Why do you do what you do every day? What do you want change about your world?  Who do you want to influence and how?  Then, I want you to summarize that why and put it on a 3 x 5 card, just as my coach told me to do.  Put it somewhere you can see it every day.  This card is taped to my bathroom mirror.  I see it 5 or more times a day.  It keeps me constantly grounded in my “movement” and drives my days with passion.

Your why is one piece of your success puzzle and staying grounded in your passion can help you get through the dips that you encounter on this path of entrepreneurship.

Let’s talk more…What is your why?  What motivates you to do what you do?  Share with us in the comments below!

Michelle McCullough is the Managing Director for Startup Princess.  Michelle became a partner in Startup Princess  in 2008.  She is responsible for event planning, marketing, affiliates, sponsorships and partnerships. Over the past 3 years she has coached women entrepreneurs and helped them grow their businesses from “dream in development” to established thriving businesses.  Michelle is a speaker, strategist, success coach and a serial entrepreneur. She started Doodads Promotional Products when she was 19. And has also spent the last 12 years working in marketing and advertising. She’s worked in all aspects of the industry from production to creative and sales to management. On top of her full-time jobs, Michelle has cultivated her love for entrepreneurship by running Doodads as a successful side business. In 2008 when Michelle quit her full-time job to be home more with her newborn son, she moved Doodads to the front burner and doubled the income in 2008 and doubled it again in 2009.  Today it continues to thrive.  This year Michelle launched a coaching program called “The Life Balance Myth” to help busy entrepreneurs build thriving businesses AND meaningful personal lives.  She believes that life balance is a myth, but she provides practical tools to achieve personal and professional success.  You can learn more about Michelle at SpeakMichelle.com Michelle has 2 children under 4 and lives in Utah.

How I Lost 15K, got Flipped Off, Fat…and Happy

Another great article from Fairy Godmother Heather Madder.  If you want to learn more of Heather’s secrets on running a successful business and be a connected mom, check out her audio series.

For a long time I searched for happiness in perfection.  I was looking for heaven, hoping that I’d find it in some distant day ahead of me.  I wanted to be “good.” Actually, I wanted to be “good enough.” I wanted to be smart enough, pretty enough, a good enough mom, and a good enough church member.

And none of it happened.  I was never good enough.  Year after year, I “tried”  and damn, I tried hard.  I gave it everything I had.  I got up early to exercise, meditate, pray, feed my kids healthy food, read scriptures to them and off to school. Then when they were away, I’d organize my house, buy the groceries, and make money being a “good” coach.  I’d work my little bootie off until my “night shift” started when the kids came home from school. Then I’d get the kids to practice, get a healthy dinner, get their chores done, get the scriptures read, get the teeth brushed, get the nightly reading in….and finally get myself into bed just seconds before crashing to the floor.

I was a Grade A, number one, class act…self abuser living with the belief that WHEN I accomplished it all… THEN I’d be good enough.

And I never was.  I was organized, but unhappy.  I was thin, but controlling.  I was “spiritual” (yeah whatever) and down on myself and others around me. I was running a race that I could never, ever, ever win.

I was the one who had set up the game…and every single day I failed.

Then one day, I saw the madness of it and it stopped me in my tracks.  “Wait…just…one minute!” I screamed in my tired mind. “I have set up a game that cannot even…be… won!”

My conclusion: EPIC FAILURE.

I wasn’t the failure, the game was the failure.  I’d never be good enough someday.  I was never ever going to get to a point where I’d be happy and content. I was addicted to the future, addicted to an imaginary results that would never come to me.  And I was missing L_I_F_E  in the meantime. I was going to be good enough right now, or I was never going to be.  Ever.  If a game can never be won, it just should not be played.

So, I trashed it and set up a whole new system…and that’s when my whole life changed.

I began to live and live on purpose in the pursuit of freedom.  Outwardly, my life probably looked somewhat the same, I mean I still did most of the same things I had done before.  I still prayed, meditated, exercised (mostly) and parented my children, but inwardly, the game had been completely re-structured to a scenario that I WON every single day.

I called it: HAPPY FROM HERE.

Essentially, I fell in love with the present moment.  I married my mind to reality. I loved reality, I’d make out with reality if that were possible, and I chose be happy with WHATEVER EXISTED in my LIFE at the TIME that it showed up….

When I gained three pounds the week before I was to film a marketing funnel…That was REALITY.  Since I had chosen to love reality, I was happy because I gained the weight, believing that it was better for me and my body to be at 140 instead of 137.  Did I work to change it?  Well yes, but happily, only after I fell in love with it first.

When a $15,000 contract fell through…That was REALITY. So I was happy that they didn’t sign and I looked for reasons why it was better for them, and better for me that the agreement didn’t take place.  And I found them!

When my son came home and said he couldn’t play in the soccer game because he missed an assignment in class…That was REALITY. I was happy for him to have that experience and happy that I didn’t have to sit in 100 degree weather for an hour and went home to watch television with a tall glass of parkling lime water.

When I was texting in the movie theater and a woman yelled at me from 10 feet away and flipped me off when I walked past her…That was REALITY. So I was happy to be in that amazing exchange with her. I was delighted by it and had I not been due back at work, I would have grabbed my flip cam and interviewed her after the show to ask about what the experience was like for her, as I genuinely wanted to know.

HAPPY from HERE became my little secret…and it worked for me like magic.  It unravelled the madness in my mind that life should be different than it was at the moment or that I should be somewhere else other than HERE. It never meant that I didn’t take action to create the things that I wanted.  But it did mean that I WAS FREE as I was creating them.

Because HERE was good enough…and anything more was just a bonus.

And I was good enough.

And I LIFE was one happy, magical moment after another…and that has been the best  game I’ve ever played.

Heather Madder is a professional speaker, writer, and former-talkshow host turned business coach. She is the successful owner of HeatherMadder.com. In her own words, “The mission of my organization is to empower humanity to awaken to love, peace, joy, power, abundance, and freedom by offering educational and hands-on tools in the form of books, audio CD’s, articles, and live presentations.” Connect with Heather on twitter @heathermadder

Why I Traded “Making it Big”…for Making it Now

Startup Princess Fairy Godmother Heather Madder shares some amazing tips about giving up what you THINK you want for what you really want!

“Making it big” was killing my peace and when I opened my eyes, it turned out to be a useless endeavor.

If you are so focused on getting somewhere else, you are completely lost to where you are right now.  You are stuck in a concept, a false story of a future that doesn’t even exist anywhere, except in your own dreamed up thought world.

For years I had plans to “make it big.” I wanted to write the next bestselling book, hit the biggest stages and start a talk show just like Oprah. I mean what up and coming speaker doesn’t want that. We were a dime a dozen, and our wisdom was worth about the same price.

I became a slave to accomplishments–the next big sale, the next big product launch, the next new coaching program.  Because in those things, I saw “myself.”  I saw the lady that I wanted to be and she was someone else other than who I was.

She was thinner, richer, and more important than the current version.  She was happier, lovelier, and more people knew who she was.  I wanted to be her because she was a better version of me.  And she didn’t exist anywhere except in a pretend stage in my mind.

I gave her up in search of liberty.

If I couldn’t be “her” now, I wouldn’t be her EVER.

I replaced “Making it Big” with “Making it NOW.

It’s my own little magical secret to paradise.

In this happy place, “I” have disappeared.  The “I” that needed something for itself through a BIG career.  It has become replaced with love for others and a desire for new experience.  I want to learn that’s why I “teach.”  I want people to be free, that’s why I “coach.”  I want to grow, that’s why I “create.”  I want to “love” that’s why I welcome people into my life.  Those are the reasons for the movement in the thing that most people call a “job,” which for me has become a straight path to enlightenment.

Deleting my ego and it’s addiction to the future has been the fastest way to freedom.

No one needs to know who I am.

I know myself and I love that person and that is how I found freedom. I don’t need people to know me, congratulate me, compliment me, or even be grateful for me, in order for me to feel good about what I do.

Feeling good RIGHT NOW is all I have…there is no other place but here.

When I have JOY in what I am doing right now, I am complete and the payoffs for my work are INSTANTLY DELIVERABLE.  There is no future pay off in them, because the dividends are taken home today. The future has become like a lost world for me and I have no desire to find it, because there are no better riches there for me than the ones I have already obtained.

That doesn’t mean that I don’t keep accomplishing more, meeting more people and making more money because all of that has happened for me.  It is easier now.  It almost comes faster now, unexpectedly and with total gratitude.

Today, I have no career plans to “make it big” someday.  I wake up in the morning and the first moment I am aware of myself, I open my heart and my mind and seek Divine Will.  When I get out of bed, I have One Objective–follow the Inner Voice.  The Inner Voice leads only to the highest good.  Some days it says to create videos.  Somedays it says clean the kitchen (not very often on that one  Today it said to call a colleague and within five seconds of the message being given, her line was ringing.  She was struggling in her marriage.  I coached her by asking certain questions about how to be free, even if her husband didn’t change.  Questions she did not expect to hear.  Questions I did not expect to ask.  But they came to me and I asked them and she hung up happy.

I hung up happy, too.  She committed to try my new coaching program and thought she might promote it to her entire student base.   I didn’t expect that. I didn’t plan it–there is no way that I would have ever planned it because I thought she wouldn’t be a candidate for it.  Divine Will knew otherwise.  Divine Will said “call her.”  I called her.  Divine Will is like that, giving and giving and giving everything to me that I need to succeed today, and far beyond it.

I still make plans, yes.  Some of you meticulous types are probably going to leave a comment that says “Failing to plan is planning to fail   Just to be sure, I do set goals and objectives and task lists (Divine Will even dictates the planning hours.)…but I don’t attach expectation to them.  Even as I set the plans, I know they will turn out differently.  I know they will be better. I know they will lead me to LEARN more than I could have ever imagined or set forth on my own agenda.  I know that all will be provided for me.  I know that today, this very moment, I can be successful in who I am and love that place wholeheartedly.

Tonight, Divine Will said it was time to write this article. I am on a house boat with my family and some friends at Lake Powell.  Instead of our indoor cabin (with a sign that says Clothing Optional at the door, which made us laugh  my husband and I opted for a bed under the stars on the highest deck of the boat. I laid my head on his chest with his arm around my shoulders and we watched the sky until he fell asleep.

As I stared at the heavens, I felt so small and so huge at the same time.

Like God could swoop me right up with a giant cupped hand, take me home, and I’d disappear into nothing and end up with everything.

It was so beautiful.  It was just like my life.

Heather Madder is a professional speaker, writer, and former-talkshow host turned business coach. She is the successful owner of HeatherMadder.com. In her own words, “The mission of my organization is to empower humanity to awaken to love, peace, joy, power, abundance, and freedom by offering educational and hands-on tools in the form of books, audio CD’s, articles, and live presentations.” Connect with Heather on twitter @heathermadder

The #2 Question I’ve Been Asked While Working With Women Entrepreneurs

The number 1 question I get asked all the time is, “Michelle, How do I find more clients?”  We’ll talk about that another time in an upcoming marketing series.

What I really want to talk about is the second question I get asked the most:

“How do I have a thriving business without sacrificing my personal life?”

I used to answer ,”If you find out, let me know!” and I was supposed to be the expert!?

Do you ever feel overwhelmed?  Unfulfilled?  Out of balance?  At the end of your day do you wonder where all that time went?  Have a list of to-dos that seems to get longer instead of shorter?  Have you tried to “balance” your life, but easily slip back into old routines?

You aren’t alone! I’ve been coaching small business owners through Startup Princess for the last 3 years.  I discovered that when there is a problem at the office, there’s usually a personal problem as well.  Especially for women.  They’re trying to balance growing a business and raising a family or have a satisfying personal life and wondering, “What’s the secret?  Other people seem to have it all, why can’t I?”

Then it happened to me.  In January of 2010 I was running 3 businesses, heavily involved in my church service, and I had just had my second child.  I was trying to balance having a toddler and a newborn, maintain a happy marriage, keep my businesses afloat and still have time for service and myself.  I kept looking around at other successful women entrepreneurs who seemed to have it all together and I went in search of what they had.   Frankly, things got worse.  Then through trial and error and honestly trying every life balance and time management program on the planet, I still felt like something was missing.  I realized life balance is a MYTH (gasp!) and I decided I needed to create a program that did a better job of focusing on my most important roles and responsibilities.

After tears and inspiration, I created the Life Priority System.  When I share this with clients and friends they love me for it and I’m dying to share it with you, my Startup Princess friends.  I’ve created an event to help you manage your life’s work.  You’ll also learn how to get your loved ones on board with your dreams!  Whether you’re a full-time parent, a full-time entrepreneur, a full-time employee or some mix of the above, my system is designed to help you to bring greater meaning to the things most important to you.

I share these secrets with my coaching and business clients for hundreds of dollars, but in this introductory workshop, I’m sharing my best stuff for $25.  It’s NOT introductory in content.  It’s introductory in price and offering to you.   And really, what is your life worth?  How much would you spend to learn tools that can bring you happiness and fulfillment?

In addition to rich content, you’ll receive the Life Balance Myth Workshop workbook, and additional conference materials.  I want you to have the tools you need to be successful when you leave so I’m pulling out all the stops and putting my best stuff in the materials.

BONUS #1 – I’m hosting a “pre-party” with Stand Up Speed Networking.  It’s been a while since we’ve had an event in Utah County, so I thought it would be fun for all of us to catch up!  Register for the event and get the Networking add on for FREE!

BONUS #2 – The first 30 people who register by Monday, October 17th will receive a 10 page Joy Journal starter kit (both in print and in digital format).

FINALLY, if you enter code: startup you’ll get 20% off.  Since all of this was inspired by Startup Princesses across the country, I want you to get a deal!

AND, if you’re not completely satisfied with the content and tools I share, I’ll give you your money back, no questions asked.  Simply see me or one of my event staff members at the end of the event and we’ll refund your money.

Reserve your spot and register today!

Event Details: Thursday, October 20th, 2011 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM (Will be available for out of towners the coming weeks.)

Tahitian Noni Visitors Center – Provo, UT – Outrigger Conference Room (No, there will not be a network marketing presentation.  They offer affordable meeting space available for community events and I like their location!)

Michelle McCullough is the Managing Director for Startup Princess.  Michelle is speaker, strategist, success coach, and serial entrepreneur.  Before Startup Princess, Michelle has spent the last 12 years working in marketing and advertising. She’s worked in all aspects of the industry from production to creative and sales to management. On top of her full-time jobs, Michelle has cultivated her love for entrepreneurship by running a successful business, Doodads, a promotional products company.  Michelle and her husband are the parents of two children ages 3 and 1, and live in Utah.  Follow Michelle success tips in her personal site speakmichelle.com

The Most Liberating Thing I’ve Ever Done – Selling Most of Our Belongings & Renting a Furnished House

Friends, I’m in the middle of a major move only it doesn’t feel so major because many of my belongings aren’t coming with us- they are being sold because we’re moving into a beautiful furnished home. Stuff I’m keeping include antique dishes, journals, books, photos, a box of Christmas decorations, clothes, camping gear, a box of toys for each child and some other essentials. I have a few favorite pieces of furniture that my friend is going to babysit for me if I ever want them back. I feel so freed up by our decision- completely liberated! Even though I completely adored our home and all of the beauty we created, it feels great to share and let go…and do something completely new and different. Here’s my current living room.

Why are we doing this? We decided earlier this year to move 45 minutes north and put our kids in a special private school. To make this happen we had to sell our house which fortunately closes this week. We thought initially we’d buy another house in the area but then as life began to unfold more options and possibilities revealed themselves and now we’re feeling like being super flexible and unattached to a home mortgage.

We are putting trust and faith in God and asking a lot of questions right now such as, “Where do you want us to be?” “What’s possible for our family?” “What type of home do we want to live in?” “What lifestyle do we want?” We will not be tied to a city, a home, a school, etc. We’re playing life day by day and asking what’s next.

I love that Startup Princess and the work I do with doTERRA as a distributor can be done worldwide and there are real possibilities to enjoy and create outside of Utah- our home for the last 14 years. I would love to give my children experiences abroad or in another state. So this year is the year of dreaming and planning…and taking action on what we feel will be best for our family. In the meantime, I love that we are adventurous enough to let go of the control and embrace the beauty of the unknowns and letting God fill in the details.

Because we made this decision to move forward on a rental, an amazing home became available that is beyond my dreams in an upscale neighborhood close to the private school where my kids will attend – furnished by my favorite store even called GateHouse in Utah. The talented owner is an interior designer and has impeccable taste. She too wanted to create something different this year for her family and they are going somewhere special for the school year.  It’s amazing how like-minded people with similar style and needs found each other through a classified ad and we both couldn’t be happier. Not to mention their home backs up to open space, home to deer. It’s super nurturing and lovely. Here’s a photo of their beautiful house.

Since letting go of what I thought was expected or next for us (buying a house) then this blessing came forward and we get to experience something so much more than we would have created otherwise. I feel God’s lining up all the details and can’t wait to see how this will influence all of our experiences as a family and business owners. Already just seeing the tender mercies I’m feeling more confident that living abroad could happen and life will continue to be a gift of wonder and miracles.

Question for you.. Have you ever done something courageous? What impact did it have on your life and business? Please leave a comment on this post. Thanks!

Kelly King Anderson, Startup Princess Founder/Managing Director

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